One of the main takeaways of the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg is the concept of a keystone habit. As a lover of all things self-help, I thoroughly enjoyed this book which is a must read for anyone looking to understand what governs habit making and formation – the book reveals all that makes habits, good or bad, stick.
So, just what exactly is a keystone habit? And what makes it so important when it comes to building new habits?
The premise of the concept is that a habit well established will aid the formation and maintenance of other habits.
Let’s say you wish to practice guitar every day. If you already have something you do regularly say, go to school or work, then that is supposed to make it easier for other habits to stick, particularly if you use the previous, older habit as a cue for the next, newer one. Returning home, for example, can start off a guitar practice session.
This is why I am glad about attending early morning classes daily this semester. I know that, just like how it was back in school, this regularity will make it just that much easier to establish other routines.
When it comes to reaching your goals, doing the things that will get you there consistently is essential – keep this in mind when forming a keystone habit and your keystone habit acts as a catalyst for kicking off other habits in the day.
So, if you’re looking to introduce new habits in your life instead of focusing on completly overhauling your lifestyle in an effort to accommodate new changes, try instead to solidify one change and working your way up from there is a much better approach.
